Just started on the Agressor II build.

I decided to do a build thread.

It is going to be converted for turbine power. First step was a new set of wings. Because I belive it is going to be about a pound heiver than a stock ducted fan (hopeing to come out at 13 pounds max weight) I added 4-1/2 inches to each wing. This is going to give me a wing span of 60 inches and wing area of 635 sq inches (if I did my math right). I can't use the wood supplied for the wing so off to the hobby shop to repalce the skins , leading and traialling edges.

If any one needs a set of wings and skins for the Agressor II let me know.

Most of the build will be stock BVM build with the exception of the inlets, turbine mount, and makeing up my own fuel tanks. I hope to be able to get a minimum of 60 oz's on board.

Power will be a full auto start Wren Mw54 14 pound thrust.

This is going to be a long build as the flying season is close here in Ohio so working on it may be a rainy day thing.

Here are a few pics of the start. You can see the difference in size of the stock wing compared to the new one.

Keep me up dated on this. A guy across town form me has one NIB for cheap. I have a hankering for it too.

I would go ahead and get it know before it is gone.

Joe

Modifications to the inlets has been started.

The starter wand tube has been removed to allow the inlets to be made smaller for the turbine. The remaining holes will be glassed over make a smooth transition. the diameter at the rear of the inlet has been reduced to 4 inches. This will allow me to use the existing duct work and reduce it to 4 inches as well up to the turbine. The motor will not be bypass but will have an inlet up to it. By doing this, i hope to be able to form 2 fuel tanks on either side of the inlet at 30 oz's each.

The inlets will be mounted to the inside of the fuse. The gap between th fuse will be filled with balsa then sanded to a thin leading edge. then the stock glass inlets can be mounted.

more to come

Just finshed the Mods on the intakes. Here they are before glass and in thier new "mold". Once the epoxy sets up they will be fitted und installed into the fuse.

The mods to the intakes done and glued in place. I glued them to the inside of the fuse to reduce the amount of air intake, don't need as much for a turbine as you do for the D/F. this left about a 1/2 gap from the fuse to the inlet leading. I fillled this with strips of 1/32 by 1/4 balsa. The balsa will be sealed with finishing resine then lite bondo to finish the contour.

Made a little more progress this past weekend. The weather was decent so I went flying instead of staying cooped up in the basement (that cabin fever thing)

Here is the other intake ready to be sealed and bondo'd.

Also got the new wing skins made and sanded. I used 4 inch 3/32 shetting and glued them to gether using Tight Bond wood glue. I like this method over the C/A because after sanding you get a smoother joint. Notice the LARGE piece of glass.

I was also able to start on the horizontal stab. They are in the foam craddle while the glue for the rear spar/ sub trailing edge drys.

I know its early to think about, but how about posting some pics of your Aggressor/Viper paint schemes. I like to get some ideas.

Thanks in advance
Joe

Keep up the good work, Joe. I hade the same idea with my crash damaged aggressor II, with a 44 though. I got as far as gutting the fuse and then got side tracked with other projects. Your build may give me some insperation.

I like how your inlets turned out. I was doing some head scratching over the same thing...gotta reduce those "huge" DF inlets.

Here's a pic of my II in it's current state and my III. Not everybody's into yellow on a jet, but it works for me.

What about putting some of the shock cones (I think that what they are called) similar to a F-104 in the intakes? Should be alot easier than cutting them down.

Thanks for the compliments Chris. There will be more post as the build progresses, but it will be slow. It is the begining of April and flying season is not too far of for us here in Ohio. Not that it has stopped us flew my Falcon 120 all winter when we had days in the upper 30's and 40's.

Good looking jets Chris, thanks for the pics

If your interested, maybe you could make it to our Jet Rally this year I enclosed a copy of the Flyer

I think thier called splitter plates like on the F-4 Phantom. I did think about it but since it was a fresh build I had alot of options.

Made a little more progress. One wing panel ready for the wing skin.

Well
I managed to make some head way on the build. The wings are ready to cut out the flaps and ailerons. The wings are just about ready for glass.

The tail surfaces are ready to be glassed and I am waiting on an order so I can finish the install on the gear in the wings.

I weighed it just out of curiosity and the way it sits right now is 4.25 pounds (no equipment or paint). I am guestimating the equipment to be approx 8.75 pounds.

Here are some more pics.

Joe L.

Lookin' GOOD!

Dave

It has been a litte while, been flying and doing those outside projects.

I did get the wings about 90% done. All the controll surfaces have been cut out and hinged.

The landing gear bays have been cut out and the door assembly's made. Landing gear is installed also. The main retracts are from Sierra Precision. The nose retract will be a BVM.

Just have to cut ouut the bays for the servos.

There will be a servo on eafh flap and each aileron. I didn't trust the bell crank set up. my experiance with them is too much slop at the control surface.

Once all the bays are cut out and built I will get the wing joined. After this is done I will be able to mount the rear wing mount former and start to get the mounts made for the turbine.

Looking good.
But just and FYI, it is a lot easier to glass and put the first coat of primer on the wings and stabs before joining the wings or glueing on the stabs. I have experienced the Pain in the A&& of not doing this first.
Looking forward to seeing the end product fly with a turbine. I have been thinking of selling my Agg II that has been retired for many years. It is a Autographed Jeff Gordon Dupont Scheme Aggressor II DF. It has been on the cover of MA and RC Report.
Anthony

Joe, I really look forward to seeing the finished Agg. My favorite was the Viper and I've always wanted to do a turbine conversion on one. All I need to do now is find an old Viper kit hiding in someone's basement. If anybody knows of one, I'll buy it right now. As for paint schemes, see attached photos. I fell in love with the checkerboard underside after seeing it on a Terry Nitsch's Viper. It looks awesome in the air.

Anthony, your Agg has survived all these years? Woo hoo! Dang, that thing had some pretty bright paint! I haven't seen that since Florida Jets '97. I still have a copy of the MA. Your Agg was the cover shot and my Cyclone-X (in primer) made the lead photo in the article. That was the first FJ and a great event.

I sold that plane to Jim Brown who, after painting it, did his best to remove the paint from the underside using ground effect drag during high-speed, super low passes. I'm not sure what happened to it but it's nice to hear that your Agg is still around. Did you ever get to meet Jeff's (then) wife Brooke?

Jim

rcjets...is your bandit a ducted fan?

thanks...mike

Maverick,

Yep, I had two of them both powered with OS91 and Viojet. I can't remember how the first one crashed, though it was at Bay of Quinte around 1994. The second one I flew for a few years and then sold it to a guy in Beverly Hills. He crashed on final approach while learning to fly it. Oh well, his money was green!

I'm serious, if anyone has an old Viper kit laying around, I want it!

Jim

I think I remember seeing your AggrII.
Did you ever have it at Heart of Ohio in the 90's?
If so I think I have it on video some where.

Unless it was another done in the same paint job.

ive been looking for a ducted fan bandit to trade out for my turbine bandit. im in the middel ,of building my aggressor 3 rite now.

thanks...mike

My Aggressor II. Which I later found out had a Viper wing.

Yeah, I used to come to Ohio every year. I participated in the speed runs with the plane. The fastest I ever got it to go was 209mph. I have also flown the plane on the track at Darlington Motor Speedway (A week before the race). That was really cool.

Blast from the past for sure. The good olde days when a kit was $400.00!

Looks goos I like the air brush work. Wish I could air brush like that but all I can do is shoot paint and mask off

Joe